August 04, 2004

Three Tips For A Smooth DIY Solar Panel Installation

Does the idea of installing your own solar panels sound like a project you would like to take on? More and more homeowners feel the same way. If you are familiar with the basic electronics that are involved, and you are handy with tools, then go for it. But be aware that installing a grid tied solar electric system is more complex than typical electrical work. Here are a few tips to keep in mind to make the job go more smoothly.

First, check with your local governing building department (city or county) to see if a permit is required. If so, find out if it requires that any of the work be done by a licensed electrician or electrical contractor. You may still be able to do some of the work that does not involve direct electrical connections even if a licensed professional is required.

Next, make sure that the system you are installing is properly designed for the amount of power that your house will require. This may sound obvious and like overkill if you have already spent weeks or months pouring over catalogs or on the phone with equipment vendors. But even when you are doing your own installation and have planned it yourself every step of the way, it does not hurt to double and triple check your calculations and your equipment list.

You could even ask the city or county inspector who will be issuing your final permit to review your game plan. It would be much better to catch a mistake now than to find out during your final inspection that you did not plan for enough solar panels to do the job properly. As a bonus, you will also be getting to know your inspector early in the process. He may turn out to be someone who could be helpful if you run into problems during the installation. And at the very least, you will already have established a good working relationship.